Preview: Packers at Steelers

Radio: AM-620 in Milwaukee. Wayne Larrivee will call the play-by-play action for the Packer Radio Network with Larry McCarren providing the analysis.

Line: Pick.

Series record: Packers lead, 18-13-0.

Last time they met: Steelers 20, Packers 10, on Nov. 6, 2005, at Lambeau Field.

Strip the Green Bay-Pittsburgh matchup down to the bare bones. When Brett Favre is on your side and Charlie Batch is on the other, you must find a way to win the game.

When you lose a game such as this, and several others just like it in the Packers' growing season of discontent, eventually there will be consequences. Jobs will be lost, families will be uprooted and a new order will be installed.

Turning the ball over three times as often as the Steelers and taking twice as many penalties, the Packers threw away a golden opportunity to upset a Super Bowl contender and fell, 20-10.

Not only were the Steelers on the road but they were coming off a short week. Their exceptional young quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, was out with a knee injury. In his place was Batch, who hadn't started a game in four years.

It's quite possible that the Steelers never could have recovered if the Packers (1-7) had only gotten ahead just one time. But largely because of their own ineptitude the Packers never really put Batch under any pressure to have to make a play.

Thus, the Steelers (6-2) escaped on a day when they gained a mere 213 yards, failed to convert even one of their eight third downs and uncharacteristically trailed in time of possession by 6 minutes.

They won because they had just one turnover, four penalties and played the smarter game.

Basically, that was because the Packers weren't on top of their game when nothing less than their best would suffice against Pittsburgh.

The onus fell on Donald Driver, perhaps the team's best player through eight games. Midway through the fourth quarter, Driver failed to catch an accurate pass from Favre that apparently clanged off his headgear and was intercepted, leading to the Steelers' clinching touchdown on a 20-yard drive.

Let's not forget, however, that Jerome Bettis didn't play and Willie Parker carried only once in the second half before departing with an ankle injury.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

1. OPPOSITE WORLDS: At midseason, Pittsburgh was 6-2 and the defending Super Bowl champion appeared headed for another big year. Green Bay was 4-4, had lost two straight and looked as if it could miss the playoffs for the second straight season. Since then, the Packers have rolled off five straight wins, while the Steelers have lost five in a row. Green Bay is now in terrific position to go back to the playoffs, while the Steelers are only the second defending Super Bowl champ to lose five straight.

2. KEY LOSSES: Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu - arguably the best player in football at his position - has missed four games on two occasions this year. Polamalu's latest injury is a PCL strain in his left knee, and he's not expected to play Sunday. Defensive end Aaron Smith, who's tremendous at holding the point of attack, has missed the last eight games with a partial tear of his right rotator cuff. Without those two, the Steelers' No. 1 ranked defense of 2008 is a shell of its former self.

3. TRENDING UPWARD: In Green Bay's first four games, it allowed 335.3 yards per game and ranked 15th overall. In the Packers' last nine contests, they've given up just 243.9 yards per game with a high of 355. Green Bay has jumped to No. 2 in total defense, allowing 272.0 yards per contest. "We love the direction we're heading," Packer defensive coordinator Dom Capers said.

4. WATCHING MASON: Packer kicker Mason Crosby missed a kick against Chicago for the fifth time in six weeks. Crosby has made just 24 of 32 (75.0%) this season, down from his first two years when he hit on 79.5% of his attempts. With two cold-weather games still looming, the Packers coaching staff might begin to bypass Crosby more and more.

5. LATE SEASON MAGIC: Green Bay's Ryan Grant has 12 100-yard outings in 43 career games (27.9%). Grant has played in 10 December games, though, and eclipsed the 100-yard mark five times (50.0%). His 137-yard outing against Chicago last week could be a sign of things to come.

BY ROB REISCHEL

THE MATCHUPS

QUARTERBACKS

Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings and certainly is in the discussion among the game's best players. Roethlisberger has never been about numbers, he just wins, posting a 56-26 career record (.683). Still, his current passer rating of 98.2 is outstanding, and his career mark of 90.9 is extremely good. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers didn't throw a TD pass last week for the first time in 20 games. Still, his passer rating of 102.5 ranks fourth and his 25-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio is terrific.

→ ADVANTAGE: Steelers

RUNNING BACKS

Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall, a first-round pick in 2008, is having a breakout year. Mendenhall didn't crack the starting lineup until Week 4, yet ranks 11th in rushing yards (940) and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Green Bay's Ryan Grant is seventh in rushing yards (1,068), and his 62-yard TD against Chicago last week was his longest since Week 16 of 2007.

→ ADVANTAGE: Even

RECEIVERS

Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes, the Super Bowl MVP in February, is enjoying his finest season (70 catches, 1,080 yards). Holmes has terrific speed and is good after the catch. Hines Ward, a 12-year veteran, remains a terrific short-yardage target and arguably the best blocking WR in football. Tight end Heath Miller (61 catches, 580 yards, 5 touchdowns) does everything well, which is why the Steelers locked him up through 2014 in July. Green Bay's Donald Driver had season-lows in catches (two) and yards (11) at Chicago.

→ ADVANTAGE: Even

OFFENSIVE LINE

Pittsburgh's unit is a mess and a major reason why Roethlisberger has been dumped 38 times. Both LT Max Starks and RT Willie Colon struggle against speed. LG Chris Kemoeatu has limited athleticism, C Justin Hartwig can be overpowered and RG Trai Essex is starting for the first time in his five-year career to mixed results. Green Bay has had the same starting five for four straight games now, and QB Aaron Rodgers has taken just six sacks in that time.

→ ADVANTAGE: Packers

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Steelers are first in the league against the run (84.9) and the Packers are second (85.0). Pittsburgh's Casey Hampton is the prototype NT in a 3-4 and a terrific run stopper. RDE Brett Keisel is extremely athletic, and the Steelers deploy him in a number of positions. LDE Travis Kirschke has filled in ably for the injured Aaron Smith, but there's been a drop-off. The Packers hope to have Ryan Pickett (hamstring) back. If not, they could show more of their 1-5-5 defense in which Cullen Jenkins is the lone DL.

→ ADVANTAGE: Even

LINEBACKERS

Pittsburgh ROLB James Harrison is the league's reigning defensive MVP. He's strong, fast and powerful, posting 10 sacks and 70 tackles to date. Harrison's play has dipped slightly, though, from 2008. Third-year LOLB Lamarr Woodley is a fast riser. He has 20 1/2 sacks in the least two years and combines a terrific motor with good strength. Lawrence Timmons, a first year starter inside, might have the best speed of the unit. James Farrior, the other ILB, is 34, has lost two steps and wears out late in games. Green Bay's Clay Matthews leads the team with eight sacks, which has tied the franchise's rookie record. OLB Brad Jones was invisible against Chicago.

→ ADVANTAGE: Steelers

SECONDARY

The Packers might have found something in blitzing CB Tramon Williams twice against Chicago. Once Williams forced an interception, and on the other, he sacked Jay Cutler. Pittsburgh greatly misses SS Troy Polamalu, who's sat out eight games this year, including the last four. Without him, there isn't a playmaker in back. Starting corners Ike Taylor and William Gay have zero combined interceptions this year and lack aggressiveness. FS Ryan Clark has been exposed with Polamalu out.

→ ADVANTAGE: Packers

SPECIAL TEAMS

Steelers kicker Jeff Reed has made 82.6% of his career kicks, including 81.8% this year. But Reed has been arrested in 2009 for disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and public intoxication. P Daniel Sepulveda has knocked 25 punts inside the 20-yard line, 11 more than Green Bay's Jeremy Kapinos. Odds are the Packers will be shopping for a new punter and kicker this off-season.

→ ADVANTAGE: Steelers

COACHING

There are great coaching storylines in this game. Green Bay's Mike McCarthy grew up in Pittsburgh and worked at the University from 1989-'92. Packer defensive coordinator Dom Capers held that same position in Pittsburgh from 1992-'94, and his success there landed him a head job in Carolina. Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, who's just 37, already has a Super Bowl title on his résumé. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, Green Bay's defensive backs coach from 1976-'79, is an all-time great.